Sliding pad



Sept. 6, 1927. ,6 ,318

M. G. CAREY SLIDING PAD.

Filed 00',' 1, 1924 WITNESSES: Z7 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept; 6, 1927.

ax G. oannY, or rrrrsnnnan, PENNSYLVANIA.

SLIDING PAD.

Application filed October 1, 1924. Serial Nat 1,011.

My invention relates to sliding pads and particularly to sliding pads worn by baseball players for protection against n ury during the act of sliding to a base.

An object of my invent-ion is to provlde .a sliding pad of such design and proportions that it will adequately protect parts of the body likely to come in contact with the earth while sliding to a base, whether the slide be feet first or head first.

Another object of'my invention is to provide a sliding pad wherein sufficient relatively-movable layers of padding material are provided to permit of relatively free sliding movement of the players cloth ng with "respect to the body without caus ng relative movement of the layer of paddlng in direct contact with the players body,th us preventing abrasion and burning of the skin.

. The number of layers required'being more than two for the'reason that two layers, as will be pointed out more fully hereln, do not reduce the padfriction sufficiently to prevent relative movement of the innermost pad with respect to the skin.

Another object of my invention is to provide a single composite pad of ample fullness for protecting the rear thighs of the wearer when sliding in a sitting posture, but which is split at its central portion in such manner that the lower divided rear portions of the pad may be comfortably disposed on opposlte sides of the crotch of the trousers under which the pad is worn.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sliding pad having the above-noted characteristics, that is suspended from a belt by flexible suspension straps, and wherein the suspension straps are spaced apart on the belt less distances than on the pad to render the pad form fitting and for reducing the bullriness usually incident to a pad construction wherein the pad is attached directly to the belt.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sliding pad that may be worn effectively by players of different physique without necessitating pads of different sizes and shapes, and which is durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

' These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention are attained by means of the sliding pad hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view of a sliding pad embodying features of my invenion; I v

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pad shown inFig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the pad taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which the pad is worn by a player. I

Referring to the drawings, the sliding pad con' prising a single, composite pad 5 consisting preferably of three separate layers 6, 7 and 8 of padding material that are sewed together only along their upper'edges 9 and reinforced by extra stitched fabric at the end 10 of'a dividing notch 11, which divides the lower portion of the pad into two wings 12 having rounded edges as indicated in Figs. 1 and2. V

The pad is worn in direct contact with the body, the wings fitting comfortably about the hips and thighs of the players and disposed on opposite sides ofthe crotch of the trousers.

Sliding pads commonly used comprise two separate pads, one for each thigh, that are directlyattached to the belt and which extend to the WaiSt lIlDG Of-thG wearer. Such pads are bulky at the waist line and interfere with the belt for the trousers and, be-

cause of the separate pads, are not adaptable to players of different stature.

In order to obviate the excessive bulkiness of the pads at the waist-line, the single pad is suspended from a flexible belt 13 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of flexible straps 14 that are sewed or otherwise secured to the belt and pad in spaced relation, the ends attached to the belt being spaced apart less distance than the ends attached to the pad, thus rendering the pad form-fitting and comfortable.

Because of the single pad construction, ample material is provided at the points 15 for affording full protection to the player while sliding in a sitting posture. Because of the space between separate pads customarily used, insufficient material is provided at the points 15 to fully protect the wearer.

Pads commonly used comprise but two layers of padding material. Such pads have been found to be inadequate to prevent relative movement of the under pad with respect to the players skin, and consequent burning and abrasion thereof. This is due to the fact that a pad having but two layers of padding has but one pair of relatively movable contacting surfaces, which is insuflicient to provide the necessary slippage of layers of the pad to prevent slippage of the under pad over the skin.

By constructing a pad having more than two relatively movable layers of padding, greater facilities are provided for the slippage of the layers of padding over one an-- other, thus greatly reducing the tendency of the under pad to slip over the skin of the wearer. I, therefore, provide a pad having three or more relatively movable layers of padding material having such characteristics and so arranged that the coefficient of friction between adjacent layers is less than that between the under layer and the skin of the wearer. Consequently, when the wearer slides upon the ground, the various layers will slide upon one another without causing the underlayer of padding to move with respect to the skin of the wearer.

The composite pad may be made of three or more layers of commercial padding which consists of fibrous material or felt sewed between two pieces of fabric and retained in position by relatively close rows of stitching The construction is rugged and serviceable, and inexpensive to manufacture, for the reason that standard commercial materials are used throughout the construction.

While I have illustrated but one embodiment of the invention,'it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that Various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. A sliding pad comprising three or more superimposed layers of padding material secured together along the upper edge of the pad, the remaining edges being unattached and permitting free relative sliding move ment of the layers over one another, and means forattaching the pad to the wearer.

2. A sliding pad comprising a piece of padding material adapted to be worn over the thighs and hips of the wearer, a belt for encircling the waist of the wearer and flexible straps attached at their ends to the belt and the pad at spaced intervals for supporting the pad below the belt and in spaced relation thereto, the space between the ends of the straps attached to the belt beingless than the corresponding space between the ends of the straps attached to pad.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th .day of September, 1924:.

MAX G. CAREY.

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